The Washington critic., 1887-11-01

dler had gone In the same direction. A
few minutes before the peddler was
found dead, with his throat cut, and his
pack riiled. Between and 8 all the
men In the village could be satisfac.
torily accounted for, except Dale. Un-
less he could prove an alibi he was In
an ugly fix.
The suspected man was arrested, but
be stoutly asserted his innocence, and
even declared that he was at Medburg
at II o'clock on the night Of the
murder.
This was denied by the Killingworth
tavern. keeper, who declared that he
had put Dale out OF his house at Z
o'clock. He Furthermore said that the
prisoner had spent most OF the day
boozipg In private room, but. as 1t
CHANGED, he had not been seen by any
visitor except the peddler.
On the second day men began to
come In from Medburg, and by the
third day Of the Inquest more than
dozen reliable witnesses had testified
that Dale had been In the tap.room of
the Red Lion at Medburg at II o'clock
on the night In question.
In those days II was nonsense to sup.
pose q man could be at KillIngworth
between seven and eight and turn up
fifty miles away at eleven. Horseflesh
was not equal to such trip. The Med.
burg alibi was held to be amply suffi-
Client TO warrant the discharge Of the
prisoner, but the Killing worth tavern.
keeper rushed away from the inquest
the devil had taken hand In the
business
Dale had hard time pushing
through the crowd, as nearly every
man present wanted to shake him by
the hand and congratulate him upon
his success In establishing his limo.
cence.
Throughout these demonstrations
Dale preserved q stolld face. He had
but little to say, and, as soon as posi-.
BILE, started for Stephenson's workshop.
He had gone about half way when
he met Stephenson himself. The in.
ventor's usually mild countenance
wore an expression of stern reproof.
"Where now, John ?" asked Steph.
enson In strident tone.
ITO the shop, sir" replied the
workman.
You will never darken my door
again." said Stephenson. "See here.
John, don't know that you killed the
peddler, but l. know how you made
out your alibi."
Dale started, and his face blanehed.
II passed the tavern late In the after.
noon, and saw you at window" said
Stepenson, $50 1t Is useless to pretend
that the landlord lied about your pres
ence. He told the truth. The other
fellows told the truth, too, about your
arrival at Medburg at eleven o'clock.
Now, you villain, we two are the only
living persons that understand the
mystery Of this thing. l know what
my machine can do, and you know.
Whether you committed the murder
or not, you rode on my steam machine
TO Medburg that night. | know II; |
have seen the marks of rough usage,
and the fuel that had has all been
used"
"well." said Dale, sulkily. "what
are you going to do?'
II will save you II can." answered
Stephenson; "but you must leave here
at once, and never return"
Dale reflected moment, and then
held out his hand.
Will IlBut hDOut lhce anu InaTCn
of now," he said. "You have treated
me well, Master Stephenson.
"None of that y answered the old
man. go at once, and I will be
silent. but / will not take your hand. I"
The young man hung his head, and
turning his back to Stephenson, made
for the highway. He had not gone
ten steps before he heard shout.
"Dale p
he stopped and waited to hear what
wns coming.
II say, Dale, did she run smoothly"
Like lightning, Master Stephen.
son."
"And you averaged twenty five miles
an hour 2"
"a little more than that"
"Then my fortune is made" said
Stephenson. Farewell, and may l
never see your face again -
John Dale pulled his hat over his
eyes and walked Off with his face to-
ward the city.
He was never heard from after his
departure from Killingworth.
Two years later Stephenson's ma.
chine was perfected and took It's place
among the wonders Of the world
Wallace p. Reed In the Atlanta Con.
stitution.